Conflicting laws?

A half-page story in the Express about a hotelier putting up the new non-smoking signs at the entrance to his Grade II listed building as required by law. He gets a letter warning him that he hasn't got planning permission to put these signs up and may be fined.

A council spokesman stated that if he applied he "might" get permission.

So what if he doesn't? What if it's not granted?

The signs come down and he gets fined for not putting up the no-smoking warnings on his main entrance as he is obliged to do.

Beautiful!